In theory, mathematically any of the seven full-season GTE Pro runners could still secure the Team and Drivers titles. However, the mathematics necessary for the #77 Dempsey Proton Racing Porsche (at 74 points scored, 45 points off the championship lead) are so unlikely that we’ll discount them in this story.
First the Manufacturers Championship. The result at Fuji saw Ferrari overhaul Aston Martin to take the lead in the standings, its 236, plays Aston Martin’s 233 with a maximum of 44 points per race meeting available (first, second and a point for pole).
Ford is just about in the hunt too, though it’s 177.5 points is 58.5 behind Ferrari and would require a major meltdown from both the Prancing Horse and Aston Martin for it to take the title; which on the basis of form this season is highly unlikely.
The title effectively then is between the Italian and British manufacturers, and is tight enough that a bad day for either one could play a major part in the destination of the FIA World Endurance Cup. Though it should be remembered that both the Am and Pro cars for Ferrari and Aston Martin qualify for points.
Whilst the points difference at both the top of the Drivers and Teams Championships is very slightly wider, these standings too are close enough that one bad result could see the title chase swing wildly against a major contender.
However, because the GTE drivers standings are scored in pure GTE finishing order, it means if a GTE Am car finishes ahead in the final standings of a Pro machine, its drivers will be scored with more points that their lower finishing pro compatriots.
So, in the FIA Endurance World Cup For GT Drivers standings all of the major contenders are unsurprisingly GTE Pro crew members, with the #95 Aston Martin crew of Marco Sorensen and Nicki Thiim leading the way with 119 points, 10 clear of the #71 Ferrari pair of Davide Rigon and Sam Bird, with Darren Turner (who stared the season with the #95 squad but switched to the #97 after Le Mans) third with 104 points.
The #51 Ferrari pairing of Gianmaria Bruni and James Calado meanwhile are on 95, with Stefan Mucke and Olivier Pla three points behind in the #66 Ford. The #67 Ford crew of Harry Tincknell and Andy Priaulx is all but out of the running, despite its win at Fuji.
In the Teams Championship though, things are tighter, not for the top two whose points are identical to the Drivers Championship, however, both Fords sit on 103 points ahead of the #97 Aston Martin on 98 and the #51 AF Corse Ferrari on 95.
With the variables of Balance of Performance still an unknown for the remaining two rounds of the championship, it seems that anything can happen whether or not changes are made with the Fords dominant at Fuji and the title-leading Aston Martin unable to score better than fifth. The Ferraris are marooned between the two.
